LAKELAND, Fla. – Jorge Posada watched Joba Chamberlain’s outing against Team Canada on March 5 and knew he had to say something after Chamberlain didn’t retire any of the five batters he faced, walking four.
“I caught him in the bullpen after that and I told him what I saw was embarrassing,” Posada said yesterday before being used as the designated hitter against the Tigers in a 7-4 loss at Joker Marchant Stadium. “I told him to throw the fastball and stop waiting for things to happen. I told him he has to pitch like he can every time no matter what. Whether it’s as a starter, reliever or even in the bullpen, people are watching.”
Chamberlain also received advice from Jose Molina and Andy Pettitte and responded with a solid three-inning outing Tuesday night against the Reds. Afterward, he thanked his teammates for giving him a “kick in the rear end.”
Chamberlain signed a one-year, split contract Tuesday night. He gets $432,575 if he spends the entire season in the majors or $234,000 on the minor league side.
Mariano Rivera threw batting practice for the first time yesterday in Tampa and is inching closer to appearing in a game next week.
“I will throw BP Saturday and we will see from there,” Rivera said after the 30-pitch effort. “If I throw another bullpen and feel as good as I do now I won’t have to throw another bullpen. Everything feels great.”
Rivera is coming back from right shoulder surgery and says the rehab has gone exactly as planned.
“Right on the nail,” Rivera said. “The shoulder feels good.”
When Rivera arrived in camp he predicted he would be ready for Opening Day on April 6 and he hasn’t backed off.
“If the shoulder feels the same way it does, there is no doubt about it,” said Rivera, who estimated he was throwing at 90 percent yesterday.
Joe Girardi said he received a voice mail from Alex Rodriguez on Tuesday and GM Brian Cashman said he spoke to Rodriguez that evening.
“He said he is doing OK,” Girardi said of his cleanup hitter who underwent hip surgery Monday in Vail, Colo. “It was good to hear his voice, he sounded good.”
Cashman backed up Girardi’s words.
Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte, members of the underachieving Dominican Republic team in the WBC, are expected to return to Yankees camp Saturday. .Ñ.Ñ. Alfredo Aceves followed CC Sabathia and didn’t impress. In 3 1/3 innings he gave up two runs and three hits, including Gary Sheffield’s second homer.
Girardi and the medical staff are satisfied that Hideki Matsui’s surgically repaired right knee is progressing. However, there are times the manager gets a little jumpy watching Matsui run.
“I still get a little nervous,” Girardi said of his DH, who went 0-for-2 yesterday and won’t play until Saturday because the Yankees are off today and he won’t make the long trip to Fort Myers tomorrow. “Last year he didn’t play every day and wasn’t asked to get 500 to 600 at-bats. I would love for him to get 600 at-bats. He is important and I still get a little nervous.”